Calvin Programs
The Calvin College Pre-Law Mentoring Program provides an opportunity for interested students to be paired with attorney mentors (primarily Calvin alumni working in the legal field in the Grand Rapids area) who will provide guidance on career options, law school admissions, and law school studies. Students should contact Calvin's Pre-Law Advisor, Joel Westra, to join the program and express their interest. When assigning mentors, priority will be given to juniors and seniors, but all pre-law students are welcome to particiate so long as mentors are available. For the 2009-10 academic year, the deadline for applying to join the mentoring program is September 24, 2009.
Outside Opportunities
Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions (an independent test preparation company) is sponsoring a LSAT Practice Test on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Calvin's
DeVos Communication Center in
Room 170 from 8 a.m. to Noon. There is no registration fee required to take the test.
For more information, contact Kaplan.
The 2009 Hillman Trial Advocacy Program will be held in January, 2010 in Grand Rapids. The program is designed to help new attorneys improve their trial advocacy skills; seven volunteers are needed to run video equipment on Thursday and Friday, and participants may choose to work on one or both of the days. Volunteers will be invited to attend Wednesday's events as well, which are optional. While it is preferable to have volunteers who are able to commit to at least one full day of participation, others will be considered. A mandatory brief training meeting will be scheduled prior to the program, and parking passes will be provided for volunteers. The Hillman Trial Advocacy Program provides an excellent opportunity to learn more about the practice of law! For additional information, see the West Michigan chapter of the Federal Bar Association web site.
Warner Norcross & Judd LLP offers a number of scholarships each year:
- Up to $1,500 is awarded to each of 5 selected minority students, to enable them to attend a study course to prepare for the LSAT. Scholarships will cover the cost of tuition for a LSAT Preparation Course offered by Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions.
To be eligible for a scholarship, applicants must:
- be a Michigan resident or currently attending a Michigan college or university;
- be a junior or senior during the 2008-2009 academic year;
- have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher;
- have demonstrated financial need; and
- take the LSAT prep course by the specified date.
Applications are available online at Warner Norcross and Judd's web site. Deadline for the submission of the completed application, including the Financial Information Form, is late in May 30 each year.
- The Firm sponsors an annual Minority Scholarship Program that awards $5,000 to a law school student, $2,000 to a paralegal/legal assistant student and $1,000 to a legal secretarial student. Candidates must be currently accepted or enrolled in an accredited school in Michigan and be a current or former resident of Michigan. Winners are selected by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. The deadline for submitting applications to the Foundation is April 1 of each year.
Interested students should complete an online application.
Questions should be directed to Ruth Bishop, Grand Rapids Community Foundation, at 616.284.4903 or to Rodney Martin, Warner Norcross & Judd LLP, at rmartin@wnj.com.
Congratulations to Kara Shin, a 2009 recipient of the Warner Norcross & Judd LSAT Preparation Course Scholarship!
NALS (the association for legal professionals) is offering two scholarships: the Michigan Chapter will provide one $1,000 scholarship and the West Michigan Chapter is offering one $500 scholarship. The awards will be given to students pursuing a career in the legal or legal services related field. The scholarships are non-renewable and may be used only for books or tuition; they will be awarded based on scholastic or legal career achievements, future career goals, demonstration of financial need, and leadership ability. Applications for the 2009-2010 academic year must be postmarked no later than November 2, 2009 for the West Michigan award, and by January 15, 2010 for the Michigan scholarship. The Association's goal is to promote legal education for its members and the public by providing networking opportunities; for additional information about meetings and activities of the NALS of West Michigan, contact Tonya Mashue.
Michigan NALS Application and Award Rules and Regulations
West Michigan NALS Application and Award Rules and Regulations
Summer Programs
Florida State University College of Law's Summer for Undergraduates Program is an intensive, four-week program that provides interested students (particularly those from groups historically under-represented in the legal profession) with an inside look at law school and the legal profession. Additional information is available from: www.law.fsu.edu/slp
The University of Iowa College of Law offers the Philip G. Hubbard Law School Preparation Program (PLUS) each summer.The Program seeks to support diversity in the legal profession by inspiring students from groups historically under-represented in the field of law to become lawyers and by providing them with the skills and assistance that will strengthen their preparation for law school. For more information about the Hubbard Program, go to:
http://www.law.uiowa.edu/hubbard/
New York University School of Law, Harvard Law School, and the Advantage Testing Foundation have partnered to create TRIALS, a residential scholarship program that helps talented and motivated undergraduates of modest means earn acceptance to the nation's leading law schools. For five weeks in July and early August, TRIALS students reside at Harvard or NYU to receive intensive LSAT instruction and a series of lectures by prominent lawyers and scholars to introduce them to the legal profession. Students with strong academic credentials, well-articulated ambitions, and documented financial need will compete for twenty spots. Students have no expenses directly associated with the program and will receive a $3000 stipend to supplement their summer income. You can apply online at:
http://trials.atfoundation.org/
The JD Project, Inc. is a group committed to assuring a racially diverse legal profession, including working to reverse the apparent trend of disappearing black and Latino law students. One of their goals is to ensure that entering law students of color excel academically, particularly during their first year. To help meet that goal, the JD Project has developed their Summer Boot Camp program, based on the belief that everyone admitted to law school has demonstrated intelligence, commitment and effort, but what distinguishes "A" students are study skills and habits, access to legal information, and analytical and test-taking skills.
The Summer Boot Camp program is an online distance learning program designed to provide intense preparation for black and Latino law school students. The Boot Camp teaches students to study effectively in law school; introduces them to the writing, thinking and test-taking skills needed to excel on law school exams; and builds a network of academic support that crosses school boundaries. Camp participants work on the study skills, strategies and techniques necessary to achieve their goals as law students.
The Boot Camp is a 150 hour online program which costs $750, including a $150 materials fee. Admission is on a rolling basis until the program is filled.
Questions about the program may be directed to Ms. Brenda Randall at The JD Project.
The Legal Education Access Summer Program (LEAP) is sponsored by the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois. College juniors and seniors from groups historically under-represented in the law field who are interested in pursuing a legal career are encouraged to apply for LEAP. The Program seeks to provide students from diverse backgrounds with the training necessary to successfully prepare and navigate the road to law school. Admission to LEAP is competitive; students will be selected who are academically focused and involved as leaders in their communities. Additional information, including the schedule of events, housing details and costs are available from the John Marshall Law School.
LSAC 2009-2010 Fee Waiver Program
The Law School Admission Council has dedicated funds to assist applicants with payment of the fees associated with taking the LSAT and associated services. Individuals who qualify for the fee waiver may take the LSAT twice, receive the Credential Assembly Service (LSDAS) with four reports and the Letter of Recommendation Service, and receive one copy of the Official LSAT SuperPrep. The fee waiver is valid for a two year period.
Since the fee waiver is intended for only the most needy applicants (which implies need in excess of that required for routine financial assistance), only those with extreme need should apply. More information is available on the LSAC website (www.LSAC.org), and the application can be completed online. Individuals can also request a paper fee waiver application by calling the Law School Admission Council at 215/968-1178.
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